When traveling, it's always a good idea to have a first aid kit around. Here are some items you'll want to have on hand for car travel, picnics and other outings.
1. Bactine (or other antiseptic)
Soap and water are your best bet for cleaning, but when you're on the go, it's good to have Bactine, since you may not be near a water source. It also has a mild pain reliever, helpful for those scrapes and cuts children often get on playgrounds or sidewalk walks. Bactine comes in a liquid, spray and wipes -- all handy, however I recommend the liquid since it can be used to flush out any dirt particles in an injury.
2. Gauze Pads
Gauze pads should always be part of your first aid arsenal. They come in many sizes, but it's best to buy the largest size and cut them down if necessary.3. Scissors
Useful for cutting gauze pads (as mentioned above), for cutting adhesive tape, shoelaces, clothing and just about anything you can think of in an emergency -- scissors are a must. Invest in a good pair of curved medical scissors. Pointed sewing (or other) scissors can be difficult to manage in an urgent situation and could lead to further injury.4. Adhesive Tape
Adhesive tape comes in handy for many first aid needs, including forming splints and securing gauze pads.5. Ace Bandage
Ace bandages used to come with the spiky fasteners, but now wrapping is easier thanks to the convenience of velcro.6. Instant Cold Pack
An instant cold pack is essential to ease swelling of bumps and bruises when you lack access to ice. It's a good idea to purchase several since these are for one use only.7. Latex Gloves
Latex gloves help keep both parties -- the injured and anyone giving first aid -- safe from bacteria, disease and other harmful conditions. They're also great to have around for situations requiring clean up of bodily fluids or changing particularly messy diapers. When finished, the diaper can be sealed inside the gloves and thrown away.8. Band-Aids
Band-aids take care off all sorts of small injuries. Your best bet is to buy a box with a variety of sizes and shapes to cover all your bases. Today's band-aids also come with added antibacterial protection.9. Tweezers
Tweezers are great for splinters, removing ingrown hairs or nabbing hang nails. A medical pair is good to have, but I'm partial to this pair which has a clear-view function so you can actually see what you're trying to remove -- very helpful when you have a squirming child.10. Sting and Bite Treatment
On the playground or picnic -- ant bites, stings and other insect issues arise. Keeping a bite and sting kit around will help ease the pain. If you know your child has allergies, it's a good idea to couple this with benadryl or have an Epi-pen with you at all times.